What To Do If You’re Scammed Out of Money (2024)

What To Do If You’re Scammed Out of Money (1)

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Scammers are tricky and can fool even the smartest people. Learn what to do to get your money back.

Scams come at us from so many directions, including emails, phone calls and texts. Sometimes they look truly legit and even the savviest person can fall victim. If you’ve been scammed out of money, here are some next steps you can take to get it back.

Take action quickly

As soon as you realize you’ve been scammed, immediately take action by contacting the third party who handled the transaction. Contacting the third party doesn’t guarantee that you’ll get your money back. However, the sooner you act the more likely it is that the situation can be remedied.

From the list below, identify who to contact and ask the third party to reverse the transaction and get your money back.

How Fraud Occurred: Who to Contact:
Credit or debit cardCard issuer
Unauthorized bank account transferYour bank
Gift card purchaseThe company that issued the gift card; have the gift card receipt on hand, and if possible the gift card itself
Through a wire transferThe wire transfer company
Through a money transfer appThe company behind the app; if the account is linked to a debit or credit card contact the card issuer
You paid with cryptocurrencyThe company used to send the money
You sent cash by mailThe U.S. Postal Inspection Service at 877-876-2455; ask them to intercept the package
Document the details

Make sure to document all details about the scam transaction so you can share it with the party that handled the transaction and the authorities.

Make notes of anyone you talked to, phone numbers, messages received, dates and times. If the scam started with a text or email, keep the message. If a fraudulent charge shows up on your credit card statement, keep a digital or paper copy.

Report the scam to the FTC

Reporting a scam helps law enforcement to build a case against scammers. If you were scammed, report it to the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) at ReportFraud.ftc.gov.

Take advantage of identity theft protection through Consumers

When you hold a Consumers Mastercard® debit or credit card you’re automatically eligible for Mastercard® ID Theft Protection™. Should your identity ever be stolen, you’ll get help from experts who will help your resolve the matter. Explore ID Theft Protection program details to learn how you’re protected.

If your Consumers debit card is lost or stolen

If your Consumer debit card is lost or stolen it could be used for fraud. Let us know about it right away by phone at 800.991.2221 or in-person at any Consumers office. Learn more about how Consumers replaces lost or stolen credit cards.

Federally insured by NCUA

What To Do If You’re Scammed Out of Money (2)

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Leave a Reply

  1. What To Do If You’re Scammed Out of Money (3) Alex Russell Pham says:

    May 23, 2022 at 8:31 pm

    I was scammed out over $650,000 from a girl lied about her health problems

    Reply

  2. What To Do If You’re Scammed Out of Money (5) Lisa Pickren says:

    July 15, 2022 at 11:38 am

    My whole bank account was wiped out by these people. I just got paid today and now I have nothing no money, food, and can’t pay my bills. Can you please help me?

    Reply

    • What To Do If You’re Scammed Out of Money (6) ConsumersCU says:

      July 19, 2022 at 12:38 pm

      Hi Lisa, please call our member service center at 800.991.2221.

      Reply

  3. What To Do If You’re Scammed Out of Money (7) James Maxwell says:

    November 23, 2022 at 7:24 am

    Can I get money back after being scammed?

    Reply

    • What To Do If You’re Scammed Out of Money (8) ConsumersCU says:

      November 23, 2022 at 9:45 am

      Hi James, please give us a call at 800.991.2221.

      Reply

  4. What To Do If You’re Scammed Out of Money (9) gerald nash says:

    December 13, 2022 at 6:25 pm

    i was scam out of $2900 by prime video

    Reply

    • What To Do If You’re Scammed Out of Money (10) ConsumersCU says:

      December 14, 2022 at 9:13 am

      We are sorry to hear that Gerald. If you have any questions please give us a call at 800.991.2221.

      Reply

  5. What To Do If You’re Scammed Out of Money (11) Effie says:

    December 29, 2022 at 11:06 am

    I followed all the described suggestions and I got nowhere. I lost about $1,000. Google cards, my credit card company, etc said “there is nothing we can do.” So sad.

    Reply

    • What To Do If You’re Scammed Out of Money (12) ConsumersCU says:

      December 30, 2022 at 11:56 am

      We’re sorry to hear that, Effie. If you have any questions, please give us a call at 800.991.2221.

      Reply

  6. What To Do If You’re Scammed Out of Money (13) BEVERLY MORRIS says:

    January 3, 2023 at 4:36 pm

    I was involved in a scam at my bank, Bank of America. The scam involved $30,000 taken out of my savings account. I have been with this Bank for 47 years, Platinum Honors Customer for many years
    The Bank states that they do not reimburse their customers because of a scam ( being that I actually was the one who physically removed the money) They only reimburse customers that were involved in fraud. I honestly don’t know the difference between the two. It was a fraudulent act for someone to call me and tell me that they were from BOA, is this fair??

    Reply

    • What To Do If You’re Scammed Out of Money (14) ConsumersCU says:

      January 4, 2023 at 10:02 am

      Hi Beverly, here’s an article we’ve written about phone scams: https://www.consumerscu.org/blog/fraudsters-and-fake-phone-calls. If you have any questions please give us a call at 800.991.2221.

      Reply

  7. What To Do If You’re Scammed Out of Money (15) Lydia Singh says:

    April 21, 2023 at 3:54 pm

    I was scammed $1500 to pay for my winnings. Was being blackmail if didn’t pay no winnings. I still didn’t get my winnings asking for more money.

    Reply

    • What To Do If You’re Scammed Out of Money (16) ConsumersCU says:

      April 24, 2023 at 8:50 am

      We’re sorry to hear that, Lydia. If you have any questions, please give us a call at 800.991.2221.

      Reply

  8. What To Do If You’re Scammed Out of Money (17) Mary C Freeland says:

    June 29, 2023 at 8:47 pm

    I was scammed over 200,000 dollars back in 2016 through 2020, someone pretending to be Mark Wahlberg the Actor. Sent money through money gram, western union and PayPal. Trying to get my money back. Also through bank wires

    Reply

  9. What To Do If You’re Scammed Out of Money (18) Eileen Lacombe says:

    January 23, 2024 at 11:25 am

    I was scammed over the phone by someone who pretended to be from the federal trade commission in September of 2023 to December of 2023 and they told me that someone was using my money for money laundering and that the only way to prove my innocence was to put all my money on gift cards and give them the card information over the phone. I have never felt so stupid in all my life because I realized too late that these were scamming me and they stole3,175 dollars from me and I don’t know if I will be able to get any of it back. I have already a complaint with the FTC and reported it to Target, EBay, my bank and the police and they didn’t give me much hope.

    Reply

    • What To Do If You’re Scammed Out of Money (19) ConsumersCU says:

      January 23, 2024 at 1:38 pm

      Hi Eileen, we are sorry to hear that happened to you and you are definitely not alone in having that happen. If you’d like to keep up to date with the latest in preventing fraud we have put together many articles, podcasts and even videos to help our members: https://www.consumerscu.org/topic/fraud

      Reply

What To Do If You’re Scammed Out of Money (2024)

FAQs

What To Do If You’re Scammed Out of Money? ›

If you or someone you care about is the victim of a fraud, scam or financial exploitation, you can report the fraud or scam to the Federal Trade Commission (FTC). Because all scams are different, you might have to reach out to a number of other local, state, and federal agencies depending on your situation.

Can I get my money back if I was scammed? ›

If you paid a scammer via debit card:

The bank must send a provisional credit to your account within 10 days and has up to 45 days to complete the investigation. If the bank determines that a charge was fraudulent, it must refund your money and remove the charge from your account [*].

Is it possible to recover money after being scammed? ›

With the majority of online scams and cyber crimes you report to Action Fraud. Reporting will also help get the scam shut down and may help you progress getting your money back. Contact your bank - You also need to contact the financial organisations involved in making the payments immediately.

How do I get over being scammed out of money? ›

Here are some suggestions:
  1. Accept the emotions. Take another look at that list above. ...
  2. Find your best supportive family members and friends. ...
  3. Self care. ...
  4. Monitor and change your thinking. ...
  5. Ask for help when you need it. ...
  6. Listen and empathize without judgment. ...
  7. Don't say…
  8. Remind them this does not mean they are stupid.

Will cash refund money if scammed? ›

4. No, 𝐂a𝐬𝐡 𝐚p𝐩 generally [((+1-833-204-2959))] does not refund money if 𝘀c𝗮mmed, as payments are typically instant and irreversible. If you are 𝘀c𝗮mmed, report the incident to 𝐂a𝐬𝐡 𝐚p𝐩 support [((+1-833-204-2959))] and contact your bank for assistance.

Are banks liable if you get scammed? ›

The Electronic Fund Transfer Act provides important protections when consumers suffer unauthorized withdrawals from their accounts. For instance, so long as a person promptly notifies their bank that access to their account has been stolen, the law limits the person's losses to $50.

Do banks refund money if hacked? ›

Can I Get My Money Back? Notify your bank to report any unauthorized transactions, start an investigation. Banks generally refund fraudulent transactions if reported promptly.

Do banks pay back scammed money? ›

Most bank policies have protections for consumers who experience card fraud or unauthorized electronic transactions. For example, if someone uses your debit card without your consent and you file a dispute, your bank will likely refund the unauthorized transaction.

Can a scammer reverse a bank transfer? ›

Generally not (and scammers tend to use non-reversible transactions, anyway). It's the same if you took out a bunch of cash, then handed it to someone outside. As soon as you authorise the payment, it is no longer their problem.

Can I get my money back if I was scammed through Zelle? ›

How To Get A Refund After An Impostor Scam On Zelle. If you used your Zelle account to send money to an impostor, you should file a claim with Zelle and your bank or credit union. Zelle is reversing charges, but each claim needs to be approved on a case-by-case basis.

How do I reverse money after being scammed? ›

Contact the company or bank that issued the credit card or debit card. Tell them it was a fraudulent charge. Ask them to reverse the transaction and give you your money back. Did a scammer make an unauthorized transfer from your bank account?

How long do banks refund scammed money? ›

If you were scammed when using your debit card

In the US, banks are required by law (Regulation E) to complete their investigation within 10 business days. They can extend the investigation to 45 days if they need more time but must provisionally credit the account within 10 business days.

Can I keep the money a scammer sent me? ›

If you receive money from a form of payment that was stolen by a scammer, that money could be removed from your account. Do not send the money back. If you send your own money back, the stolen funds you received can also be removed from your account.

Can money be refund if scammed? ›

Your card provider can ask the seller's bank to refund the money. This is known as the 'chargeback scheme'. If you paid by debit card, you can use chargeback however much you paid.

What happens if I receive money from a scammer? ›

Ask the sender to cancel the transaction immediately — in many cases, the sender can simply contact the app's customer support to cancel the transaction. If the sender refuses to do so, contact the app's customer support yourself, explain the situation, and ask them to reverse the transaction.

Can you deduct money you were scammed out of? ›

Unfortunately, the theft loss deduction is limited, as of 2018. "For tax years 2018 through 2025, if you are an individual, casualty and theft losses of personal-use property are deductible only if the losses are attributable to a federally declared disaster (federal casualty loss)."

What to do after I got scammed? ›

What to do in the wake of a scam
  1. Immediately cut off communication with the scammer. ...
  2. Notify your bank and credit card companies. ...
  3. Change your passwords. ...
  4. Document the scam. ...
  5. Report the scam. ...
  6. Protect your credit. ...
  7. Remain vigilant. ...
  8. Share your experience with someone you trust.
Mar 28, 2024

Can scammed money be traced? ›

While you can take steps to recover from the impact of fraud, it's nearly impossible to track down someone who scammed you and get justice. Instead, it's almost always better to protect yourself, report the scammer, and try to recover your losses. But even better is avoiding getting scammed in the first place.

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